2018–19 Indian Super League

The 2018–19 Indian Super League season was the fifth season of the Indian Super League, one of the top Indian professional football leagues. It was established in 2013. The regular season began on 29 September 2018 and concluded on 17 March 2019.[1] The league took a mid-season break for around one month from 17 December 2018 to early January 2019 due to India's participation in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[1]

Indian Super League
Season2018–19
Dates29 September 2018 – 17 March 2019
ChampionsBengaluru
1st ISL title
3rd Indian title
AFC CupBengaluru
Matches played95
Goals scored254 (2.67 per match)
Top goalscorerCoro
(16 goals)
Best goalkeeperGurpreet Singh Sandhu
(96.32 mins per goal)
Biggest home winGoa 5–0 Mumbai City
(24 October 2018)
Mumbai City 6–1 Kerala Blasters
(16 December 2018)
Biggest away winMumbai City 1–5 Goa
(9 March 2019)
Highest scoringChennaiyin 3–4 NorthEast United
(18 October 2018)
Mumbai City 6–1 Kerala Blasters
(16 December 2018)
Longest winning runBengaluru (6 games)
Longest unbeaten runBengaluru (11 games)
Longest winless runKerala Blasters (14 games)
Longest losing runChennaiyin (5 games)
Highest attendance41,202
ATK 0–2 Kerala Blasters
(29 September 2018)
Lowest attendance3,134
Delhi Dynamos 2–0 Kerala Blasters
(31 January 2019)
Total attendance1,131,304
Average attendance13,155

Chennaiyin were the defending champions, having defeated Bengaluru in the 2018 final, however they did not qualify for the playoffs having finished the last in the regular season. Bengaluru FC won their maiden title by defeating FC Goa 1–0 in the final which was held on 17 March 2019. Bengaluru FC became the first team who won the ISL Championship as well as after topped the league stage.[2][3]

Teams

Stadiums and locations

TeamCity/StateStadiumCapacity
ATKKolkata, West BengalSalt Lake Stadium85,000[4]
BengaluruBengaluru, KarnatakaSree Kanteerava Stadium25,810[5]
ChennaiyinChennai, Tamil NaduJawaharlal Nehru Stadium20,765[6]
Delhi DynamosDelhiJawaharlal Nehru Stadium14,342[7]
GoaMargao, GoaFatorda Stadium18,600[8]
JamshedpurJamshedpur, JharkhandJRD Tata Sports Complex24,424[9]
Kerala BlastersKochi, KeralaJawaharlal Nehru Stadium38,086[10]
Mumbai CityMumbai, MaharashtraMumbai Football Arena7,790[11]
NorthEast UnitedGuwahati, AssamIndira Gandhi Athletic Stadium23,627[12]
Pune CityPune, MaharashtraBalewadi Stadium10,237[13]

Personnel and sponsorship

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
ATK Steve Coppell[14] Manuel LanzaroteNivia[15]CESC Limited[15]
Bengaluru Carles Cuadrat Sunil ChhetriPuma[16]Kia Motors[17]
Chennaiyin John Gregory Maílson AlvesPerformax[18]Apollo Tyres[19]
Delhi Dynamos Josep Gombau Marcos TébarTYKA SportsAspire Academy
Goa Sergio Lobera Mandar Rao DessaiSqad GearXiaomi
Jamshedpur César Ferrando TiriNiviaTata Steel
Kerala Blasters Nelo Vingada Sandesh JhinganSIX5SIXMuthoot Pappachan
Mumbai City Jorge Costa Lucian GoianSqad GearACE Group
NorthEast United Eelco Schattorie Bartholomew OgbechePerformaxMcDowell's No. 1
Pune City Phil Brown Matt MillsSIX5SIXSuzuki Gixxer

Head coaching changes

TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming coachDate of appointment
Pune City Ranko PopovićContract finished31 May 2018[20]Pre-season Marcos Paquetá1 June 2018[21]
Bengaluru Albert RocaContract finished31 May 2018[22] Carles Cuadrat14 June 2018[23]
ATK Robbie KeaneContract finished31 May 2018[24] Steve Coppell18 June 2018[25]
Jamshedpur Steve CoppellContract finished31 May 2018[25] César Ferrando21 July 2018[26]
Delhi Dynamos Miguel Ángel PortugalMutual consent2 May 2018[27] Josep Gombau2 August 2018[28]
Pune City Marcos PaquetáContract terminated29 June 2018[29] Miguel Ángel Portugal9 August 2018[30]
Mumbai City Alexandre GuimarãesMutual consent14 August 2018[31] Jorge Costa14 August 2018[32]
NorthEast United Avram GrantContract finished31 May 2018 Eelco Schattorie18 August 2018[33]
Pune City Miguel Ángel PortugalSacked26 October 2018[34]10th Pradyum Reddy (Interim)26 October 2018[34]
Kerala Blasters David JamesSacked18 December 20188th Nelo Vingada18 January 2019
Pune City Pradyum Reddy (Interim)Mutual consent24 December 20187th Phil Brown24 December 2018

Roster changes

Foreign Players

The number of foreign players allowed in the squad will be reduced from eight to seven from 2018 to 2019 season, however the maximum number of foreign players allowed on the pitch will remain same at five.[35]

ClubForeigner 1Foreigner 2Foreigner 3Foreigner 4Foreigner 5Foreigner 6Foreigner 7
ATK Éverton Santos Gerson Vieira Andre Bikey John Johnson Kalu Uche Edu García Manuel Lanzarote
Bengaluru Álex Barrera Dimas Delgado Xisco Hernández Juanan Luisma Albert Serrán Miku
Chennaiyin Chris Herd Maílson Alves Raphael Augusto Eli Sabiá Gregory Nelson Carlos Salom Andrea Orlandi
Delhi Dynamos Ulises Dávila Gianni Zuiverloon Rene Mihelič Adrià Carmona Martí Crespí Francisco Dorronsoro Marcos Tébar
Goa Hugo Boumous Ahmed Jahouh Zaid Krouch Mourtada Fall Edu Bedia Coro Carlos Peña
Jamshedpur Tim Cahill Memo Mario Arqués Carlos Calvo Sergio Cidoncha Pablo Morgado Tiri
Kerala Blasters Cyril Kali Courage Pekuson Nikola Krčmarević Nemanja Lakić-Pešić Slaviša Stojanović Matej Poplatnik Kizito Keziron
Mumbai City Rafael Bastos Arnold Issoko Paulo Machado Lucian Goian Modou Sougou Marko Klisura Matías Mirabaje
NorthEast United José David Leudo Janeiler Rivas Palacios Mato Grgić Panagiotis Triadis Bartholomew Ogbeche Federico Gallego Juan Cruz Mascia
Pune City Marko Stanković Diego Carlos Marcelinho Iain Hume Matt Mills Jonathan Vila Martín Díaz

Regular season

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Bengaluru[a] (C)1810442922+734[b]Advance to ISL Playoffs
2Goa1810443620+1634[b]
3Mumbai City189362520+530
4NorthEast United187832218+429
5Jamshedpur186932921+827
6ATK186661822−424
7Pune City186482430−622
8Delhi Dynamos184682327−418
9Kerala Blasters182971828−1015
10Chennaiyin1823131632−169
Source: Indian Super League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play ranking; 6) drawing of lots
(C) Champions
Notes:

Results

Home \ AwayKOLBENCHEDELGOAJAMKERMUMNEUPUN
ATK1–22–12–10–02–10–21–30–11–0
Bengaluru1–01–01–03–02–22–21–12–12–1
Chennaiyin2–32–11–31–30–00–00–13–41–2
Delhi Dynamos1–23–20–00–02–22–02–40–21–1
Goa3–01–21–03–20–03–05–05–14–2
Jamshedpur1–15–13–12–14–12–21–00–01–4
Kerala Blasters1–11–23–01–11–31–11–10–00–1
Mumbai City0–01–02–02–00–20–26–10–22–0
NorthEast United0–01–11–01–12–21–12–10–11–1
Pune City2–20–32–41–32–02–11–12–10–2
Source: Indian Super League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

Bracket

Semi-finalsFinal
        
1Bengaluru134
4NorthEast United202
1Bengaluru1
2Goa0
2Goa505
3Mumbai City112

Semi-finals

Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
NorthEast United2–4Bengaluru2–10–3
Mumbai City2–5Goa1–51–0

Final

Bengaluru1–0Goa
  • Bheke 117'
Report

Season statistics

Scoring

Top Indian scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Sunil ChhetriBengaluru9
2Lallianzuala ChhangteDelhi Dynamos5
Udanta SinghBengaluru
4Daniel LalhlimpuiaDelhi Dynamos4
Michael SoosairajJamshedpur
Thoi SinghChennaiyin
Robin SinghPune City
Rowllin BorgesNorthEast United
Jackichand SinghGoa
10C. K. VineethKerala Blasters3
Brandon FernandesGoa
Rahul BhekeBengaluru
Source:[36]

Hat-tricks

Result column shows goal tally of player's team first.
PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef
Bartholomew OgbecheNorthEast UnitedChennaiyin3–4 (A)18 October 2018[37]
Modou Sougou4Mumbai CityKerala Blasters6–1 (H)16 December 2018[38]
Modou SougouMumbai CityATK3–1 (A)22 February 2019[39]
Notes

4 – Player scored four goals
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Assists

RankPlayerClubAssists
1 Arnold IssokoMumbai City8
2 CoroGoa7
3 Carlos CalvoJamshedpur6
4 Dimas DelgadoBengaluru5
Hugo BoumousGoa
Federico GallegoNorthEast United
Edu BediaGoa
Xisco HernándezBengaluru
8 MikuBengaluru4
MarcelinhoPune City
Brandon FernandesGoa
Seiminlen DoungelKerala Balsters
Paulo MachadoMumbai City
Jackichand SinghGoa
Source:[40]

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets
1Amrinder SinghMumbai City7
Gurpreet Singh SandhuBengaluru
3Pawan KumarNorthEast United6
4Naveen KumarGoa4
Dheeraj Singh MoirangthemKerala Blasters
Mohammad NawazGoa
Subrata PalJamsedpur
Arindam BhattacharyaATK
Francisco DorronsoroDelhi Dynamos
10Rehenesh TPNorthEast United2
Kamaljit SinghPune City
Karanjit SinghChennaiyin
Source:[41]

Discipline

Player

Club

  • Most yellow cards: 50[44]
    • Pune City
  • Most red cards: 3[45]
    • Pune City
    • NorthEast United
    • Goa
    • Bengaluru

Average home attendances

TeamGPCumulativeHighLowMean
Jamshedpur9180,14023,05014,67820,016
ATK8146,48241,2025,32118,310
Kerala Blasters8136,99631,1663,29817,125
Goa10163,77917,80714,48216,378
Bengaluru10143,29321,6369,37914,329
NorthEast United9121,12221,7866,87313,458
Chennaiyin785,27014,9926,93912,181
Delhi Dynamos963,86112,3423,1347,096
Pune City640,5548,1935,9416,759
Mumbai City1049,8077,5633,4624,981
Total861,131,30441,2023,13413,155
Source:[46]

Awards

Hero of the Match

MatchHero of the MatchMatchHero of the MatchMatchHero of the Match
PlayerClubPlayerClubPlayerClub
Match 1Matej PoplatnikKerala BlastersMatch 33Gerson VieiraATKMatch 65Lallianzuala ChhangteDelhi Dynamos
Match 2MikuBengaluruMatch 34CoroGoaMatch 66CoroGoa
Match 3CoroGoaMatch 35Ashique KuruniyanPune CityMatch 67MarcelinhoPune City
Match 4Jerry MawihmingthangaJamshedpurMatch 36Sunil ChhetriBengaluruMatch 68Manuel LanzaroteATK
Match 5Rana GharamiDelhi DynamosMatch 37Sandesh JhinganKerala BlastersMatch 69Brandon FernandesGoa
Match 6John JohnsonATKMatch 38Subhasish BoseMumbai CityMatch 70Udanta SinghBengaluru
Match 7Sandesh JhinganKerala BlastersMatch 39Pablo MorgadoJamshedpurMatch 71Panagiotis TriadisNorthEast United
Match 8Ahmed JahouhGoaMatch 40Nishu KumarBengaluruMatch 72MemoJamshedpur
Match 9Nishu KumarBengaluruMatch 41Federico GallegoNorthEast UnitedMatch 73Raphael AugustoChennaiyin
Match 10Balwant SinghATKMatch 42Pronay HalderATKMatch 74Edu GarciaATK
Match 11Bartholomew OgbecheNorthEast UnitedMatch 43Dheeraj Singh MoirangthemKerala BlastersMatch 75Rowllin BorgesNorthEast United
Match 12Arnold IssokoMumbai CityMatch 44Rahul BhekeBengaluruMatch 76CoroGoa
Match 13C.K. VineethKerala BlastersMatch 45José David LeudoNorthEast UnitedMatch 77Matej PoplatnikKerala Blasters
Match 14Sergio CidonchaJamshedpurMatch 46Manuel LanzaroteATKMatch 78Robin SinghPune City
Match 15Sunil ChhetriBengaluruMatch 47Paulo MachadoMumbai CityMatch 79Daniel LalhlimpuiaDelhi Dynamos
Match 16Francisco DorronsoroDelhi DynamosMatch 48Seiminlen DoungelKerala BlastersMatch 80Ahmed JahouhGoa
Match 17Edu BediaGoaMatch 49Chencho GyeltshenBengaluruMatch 81Rowllin BorgesNorthEast United
Match 18Farukh ChoudharyJamshedpurMatch 50Modou SougouMumbai CityMatch 82MikuBengaluru
Match 19Manuel LanzaroteATKMatch 51Jonathan VilaPune CityMatch 83Modou SougouMumbai City
Match 20Arnold IssokoMumbai CityMatch 52José David LeudoNorthEast UnitedMatch 84Anirudh ThapaChennaiyin
Match 21Ahmed JahouhGoaMatch 53Arnold IssokoMumbai CityMatch 85Vinit RaiDelhi Dynamos
Match 22Seiminlen DoungelKerala BlastersMatch 54MarcelinhoPune CityMatch 86Michael SoosairajJamshedpur
Match 23Federico GallegoNorthEast UnitedMatch 55TiriJamshedpurMatch 87CoroGoa
Match 24Erik PaartaluBengaluruMatch 56Erik PaartaluBengaluruMatch 88Lalthathanga KhawlhringNorthEast United
Match 25Michael SoosairajJamshedpurMatch 57CoroGoaMatch 89Iain HumePune City
Match 26Adil KhanPune CityMatch 58Nanda KumarDelhi DynamosMatch 90Edu GarciaATK
Match 27Paulo MachadoMumbai CityMatch 59Modou SougouMumbai CityMatch 91 (SF)José David LeudoNorthEast United
Match 28TiriJamshedpurMatch 60Edu GarciaATKMatch 92 (SF)Mourtada FallGoa
Match 29DimasBengaluruMatch 61Bartholomew OgbecheNorthEast UnitedMatch 93 (SF)MikuBengaluru
Match 30Maílson AlvesChennaiyinMatch 62Paulo MachadoMumbai CityMatch 94 (SF)Mourtada FallGoa
Match 31Ahmed JahouhGoaMatch 63Subrata PaulJamshedpurMatch 95 (F)Rahul BhekeBengaluru
Match 32Arnold IssokoMumbai CityMatch 64Gurpreet Singh SandhuBengaluru

ISL Emerging Player of the Match

MatchEmerging Player of the MatchMatchEmerging Player of the MatchMatchEmerging Player of the Match
PlayerClubPlayerClubPlayerClub
Match 1Dheeraj Singh MoirangthemKerala BlastersMatch 33Komal ThatalATKMatch 65Nanda KumarDelhi Dynamos
Match 2Jerry LalrinzualaChennaiyinMatch 34Mohammed NawazGoaMatch 66Mohammed NawazGoa
Match 3Nikhil KadamNorthEast UnitedMatch 35Jerry MawihmingthangaJamshedpurMatch 67Sarthak GoluiPune City
Match 4Jerry MawihmingthangaJamshedpurMatch 36Brandon FernandesGoaMatch 68Hitesh SharmaATK
Match 5Ashique KuruniyanPune CityMatch 37Dheeraj SinghKerala BlastersMatch 69Lallianzuala ChhangteDelhi Dynamos
Match 6Rehenesh TPNorthEast UnitedMatch 38Komal ThatalATKMatch 70Dheeraj SinghKerala Blasters
Match 7Dheeraj Singh MoirangthemKerala BlastersMatch 39Michael SoosairajJamshedpurMatch 71Nanda KumarDelhi Dynamos
Match 8Mohammad NawazGoaMatch 40Lallianzuala ChhangteDelhi DynamosMatch 72Farukh ChoudharyJamshedpur
Match 9Gourav MukhiJamshedpurMatch 41Ashique KuruniyanPune CityMatch 73Laldinliana RenthleiChennaiyin
Match 10Komal ThatalATKMatch 42Mohammad NawazGoaMatch 74Sahil PanwarPune City
Match 11Jerry LalrinzualaChennaiyinMatch 43Isaac VanmalsawmaChennaiyinMatch 75Raynier FernandesMumbai City
Match 12Nikhil PoojariPune CityMatch 44Ashique KuruniyanPune CityMatch 76Brandon FernandesGoa
Match 13Lallianzuala ChhangteDelhi DynamosMatch 45Redeem TlangNorthEast UnitedMatch 77Sahal Abdul SamadKerala Blasters
Match 14Michael SoosairajJamshedpurMatch 46Hitesh SharmaATKMatch 78Sahil PanwarPune City
Match 15Sahil PanwarPune CityMatch 47Lallianzuala ChhangteDelhi DynamosMatch 79Nanda KumarDelhi Dynamos
Match 16Isaac VanmalsawmaChennaiyinMatch 48Jerry MawihmingthangaJamshedpurMatch 80Mohammad RakipKerala Blasters
Match 17Chinglensana SinghGoaMatch 49Lalthathanga KhawlhringNorthEast UnitedMatch 81Ashique KuruniyanPune City
Match 18Michael SoosairajJamshedpurMatch 50Raynier FernandesMumbai CityMatch 82Brandon FernandesGoa
Match 19Jerry LalrinzualaChennaiyinMatch 51Sarthak GoluiPune CityMatch 83Pranjal BhumijMumbai City
Match 20Ravi KumarMumbai CityMatch 52Redeem TlangNorthEast UnitedMatch 84Isaac VanmalsawmaChennaiyin
Match 21Mohammad NawazGoaMatch 53Subhasish BoseMumbai CityMatch 85Rohit KumarPune City
Match 22Michael SoosairajJamshedpurMatch 54Kamaljit SinghPune CityMatch 86Jerry MawihmingthangaJamshedpur
Match 23Redeem TlangNorthEast UnitedMatch 55Farukh ChoudharyJamshedpurMatch 87Saviour GamaGoa
Match 24Komal ThatalATKMatch 56Ankit MukherjeeATKMatch 88Sahal Abdul SamadKerala Blasters
Match 25Sumeet PassiJamshedpurMatch 57Seriton FernandesGoaMatch 89Mohammad YasirPune City
Match 26Kamaljit SinghPune CityMatch 58Isaac VanmalsawmaChennaiyinMatch 90Ankit MukherjeeATK
Match 27Anirudh ThapaChennaiyinMatch 59Raynier FernandesMumbai CityMatch 91 (SF)Redeem TlangNorthEast United
Match 28Mohammad Sajid DhotDelhi DynamosMatch 60Sahal Abdul SamadKerala BlastersMatch 92 (SF)Brandon FernandesGoa
Match 29LalruattharaKerala BlastersMatch 61Lalthathanga KhawlhringNorthEast UnitedMatch 93 (SF)Nishu KumarBengaluru
Match 30Ashique KuruniyanPune CityMatch 62Raynier FernandesMumbai CityMatch 94 (SF)Brandon FernandesGoa
Match 31Lallianzuala ChhangteDelhi DynamosMatch 63Michael SoosairajJamshedpurMatch 95 (F)Nishu KumarBengaluru
Match 32Redeem TlangNorthEast UnitedMatch 64Lalthathanga KhawlhringNorthEast United

End-of-season awards

AwardPlayerClub
Golden Ball For The Hero of the League CoroGoa
ISL Emerging Player of the Season Sahal Abdul SamadKerala Blasters
Golden Glove Gurpreet Singh SandhuBengaluru
Winning Pass Season Award For Most Assists Arnold IssokoMumbai City
Golden Boot CoroGoa
Best Pitch of the SeasonKerala Blasters for Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi)

See also

References